Maywen and The Queen of Night

by L M Lannutti

  “If she’s so powerful she can escape her prison I fear she’ll want revenge’’ she said wearily.

  I stood up.

  ‘’We can stop her but we need your help.’’ I said

  Morganna eyes perked like she realized something important. Morganna waved her staff and two objects appeared in my hands- magic healing herbs in my left and a piece of paper that said:

  The Ensnarement Potion

  One vial of death, two drops of newly fallen blood, three petals from a flower in the garden of spring then chant the command words

  Auta ge oia maxi.

  Then mechanically I started walking to a tunnel on the left side on Morganna’s throne. I was in a room every space on the walls was covered with different sized mirrors, candles levitated around her.

  “The Chamber of the Elder Mirrors’’ Morganna whispered I turned around and saw her staring at me.

  “How did you know I came in here?’’ I asked.

  “A mentor and apprentice have a strong bond. Ingraine would come here when she wanted to think.’’

  ‘’ Look in one of the mirrors’’ Morganna encouraged.

  I turned sideways and stared at the mirror next to me but the face I saw wasn’t mine. Instead I saw a boy my age with the same black hair and green eyes as mine. He looked familiar somehow but I couldn’t think of the reason. Then I saw the boy transform into a lion his eyes blazing with anger. I closed my eyes tight, a hand touched my shoulder.

  “It’s alright Maywen some things we see in the mirrors are unclear and strange.”

  A question formed in my mind “Morganna, why is it Ingraine good and Atropos is evil?” I asked

  Morganna laughed breezily.

  “That depends on what one defines good and evil’’ Morganna said

  I could tell she was trying to change the subject just like Ingraine did.

  “Years ago, when the two of them were your age I needed to choose one of them to become my apprentice who would then take on the Elder Witch powers and the throne. I chose Ingraine and when I did I sent Atropos on the dark path she treads today. The two started arguing constantly and used their magic against each other, as they got stronger their battles grew on grander scales. They waged war on each other .There was many casualties.’’

  “Who won?” I asked

  “Ingraine’’ Morganna answered

  Then Morganna guided me back to the throne room. Morganna sat on her throne, she jerked her eyes turned pure white.

  “You must leave now; your friend is near death.’’

  I understood what she meant and without a goodbye I started running with Amersa trailing behind.

  “Wait Maywen you don’t know it’s Darasin ’’ Amersa said panting because she caught up to me.

  “Yes I do. I’ve had this strange feeling ever since the passageway sealed itself. The same feeling right before the guards burned down Ingraine’s tent.’’

  Then the orange Solastroiend began to glow but brighter and the door opened and I saw Darasin was gone.

  “Where is he?” I asked scanning around

  “There are footprints over here” Amersa said her face to the ground she transformed into a fox and scampered off .I followed her.

  We followed Darasin’s footprints until I saw his limp body. His mouth was bloody and his right eye was black and swollen, his face was pale, and his sword lay a few inches away. I put it back in his scabbard then in my fear I grabbed the healing herbs and put it in his mouth. He swallowed them and the blood on his face was gone and his skin and eye returned to its normal color. I saw his eyes open up suddenly.

  “I stalled Draco and the king’s soldiers for as long as could ’’ Darasin’s voice quivered.

  “Draco?’’ I echoed confused

  Darasin nodded

  “He’s working with Dervindell’s soldiers to find us’’ Darasin explained

  Darasin smiled slyly “I gave them a false trail though’’ he said

  Amersa looked at Darasin blankly

  “If your brother is with the soldiers couldn’t he aid us in some way?” Amersa asked

  Darasin and I laughed

  “He just stood there where they beat me to a bloody pulp, don’t count on Draco’s help because it’ll never happen’’ Darasin assured.

  He stood up shakily. Melibar landed with a large apple tree branch with tons of apples and leaves

  I thought you would need a few more apples Melibar thought.

  You can eat apples later Melibar we need to go NOW!’’ I replied.

  We hopped on the dragon Darasin in the front, me in the middle and Amersa in the back.

  “Where are we going? ’’ Darasin asked.

  “We must go to the Nine Falls’’ Amersa said grimly.

 

 

  Chapter 7

  The Witch’s War

  ‘’ Why there? ’’ Darasin asked.

  “It is the perfect place to summon the dead’’ Amersa explained.

  She looked up it was sunset.

  “But we’ll have to wait till nightfall.’’ Amersa added

  We reached The Nine Falls at dusk the whole landscape was shrouded in mist. We made a little camp under a giant tree root. It was a giant tree but Melibar sneezed and the only part of the tree that wasn’t on fire was that one tree root but we put out the fire with magic right away.

  “It will be a few hours so why don’t you two get some sleep’’ I said to Darasin and Amersa.

  “I can take first watch’’ I said.

  ‘’If there’s any problems wake us up’’ Amersa warned.

  “I can take first watch ’’ Darasin suggested.

  Then he yawned and went to sleep. Amersa looked at him annoyed before she dozed off. I was alone with Melibar until suddenly I heard angry screams and howls. I saw the king’s soldiers, they looked fierce and some were on horses but in the night sky I saw nine shadowy forms of birds. Their whole bodies were consumed in black fire.

  “Get up you guys we are under attack! ’’ I yelled.

  It took them a few seconds for Darasin and Amersa to get up. When they turned around and saw what we were up against their faces paled.

  “What are we going to do? We need to get to the falls’’ I said panicked.

  “And not get killed.’’ Darasin added

  Then suddenly one of the black birds spewed fire in between us and Melibar.

  Maywen jump down the falls I can hold off the attackers Melibar thought.

  No you’ll die I told her.

  Melibar dragged her tail and pushed us in to the falls. We kept falling down. Soaking wet mist was everywhere so I couldn’t even see my friends; I could only hear their screams. Then we landed in a shallow pool. The mist separated in a circle around a single stone that with its size could only fit one person. I stood on the single stone while my friends stood nearby on another stone. With the mist I couldn’t see how Melibar was doing with our attackers.

  ‘’You have to give the dead an offering. ‘’ Amersa yelled so I could hear her over the sound of the falling water.

  I fished an apple from my bag and turned around to my friends.

  “Will this do?’’ I asked.

  “Yes I think it will do quite well’’ a voice said behind that I recognized in an instant.

  “Ingraine ’’ I cheered but the smile faded when I saw she was pale and misty and floated above the ground but she had a human form.

  “You have a name you know’’ Ingraine said grimly.

  “Of course I do its. Maywen.’’ My former mentor shook her head.

  “No. I mean a family name, its Maeve’’.

  “How do you know that?’’ I asked.

  Ingraine sighed.

  “Maywen it’s just…’’

  “What?’’ I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

&
nbsp; “I’m your mother’’ she answered.

  “My mother, anything else you need to tell me mom!’’ I yelled bitterly. Instantly I regretted what I said and started crying. Ingraine’s eyes were filled with pain and sadness.

  “Maywen its okay. You have the right to feel that way, just let me explain’’.

  The mist around them suddenly turned blood red and Ingraine started her story.

  ‘’You see Maywen there was a war years ago. The Witch’s War as it was later called, though Civil War would have been more appropriate because witches were divided between themselves. One side was that of Atropos the other… her face darkened,

  “Me.’’

  “Prince Herames Maeve of Rao, your father, fought on my side. Atropos was enraged when she realized she was destined to lose the war as long as Herames lived. Atropos sent her strongest warrior to kill him but he was defeated by your father. Herames and I won the war, as her fortress fell Atropos fled. Then you were born and Atropos killed Herames herself and burned our house down. After that I had no choice. Morganna forced me to give you up. I tracked Atropos down in revenge and used the ensnarement potion to trap her’’

  I started crying.

  “So you see why you need to stop her. She’s killed everyone you’ve cared about and she will continue. ’’ Ingraine warned.

  I understood my friends were in as much danger as I was.

  “Maywen you must understand I had to give you up to hide you from Atropos and her servants. When I met you five days ago I was so happy I felt witches blood in you, my blood surging in your veins.’’ Ingraine said proudly.

  Then I thought of something and I rolled up my sleeve to show Ingraine the bracelet around my wrist.

  “Dayla told me that this was my mother’s, did it really belong to you?’ I asked.

  A grim smile touched Ingraine’s lips.

  “Herames gave that to me before the battle I told you of, and one time when you were still a baby I decided to pass it on to you’’ Ingraine explained.

 

  “Now I shall give you this’’ she said in a lighter tone

  Ingraine handed me a vial of white smoke that glowed brightly and spun around like a miniature galaxy.

  I felt the urge to open up the vial and touch it….

  “Stop this is the vial of death! ’’ Ingraine said firmly.

  ‘’And something else’’ she said slyly.

  Ingraine reached for her neck. I thought she was giving me mist but when she put it on my hand the mist became smooth then solid. It was the lioness pendant she had worn before she died. Then she gave me a dagger it of silvery metal.

  ‘’This was my dagger and my pendant. Both are very powerful, use my gifts well Maywen now I must go. ’’ Ingraine waved goodbye.

  “Bye mom ’’ I said a sadly.

  The mist disappeared and all that was left of my Mom’s visit was the vial of death, a pendant and a dagger. I wasn’t sure how I could use the pendant but I was also worried that this dagger would be seen in battle, and the fact that I could be leading my friends to a suicide mission. I put the pendant in my bag so they couldn’t see it. My friends wadded over to me with Melibar behind them.

  “You’re alive! I saw the red mist and I thought something went wrong.’’ Darasin said concerned.

  “Did you get the vial? ’’ Amersa asked.

  I held it up so they could see it and we hopped on Melibar’s back and took off.

 

  Chapter 8

  Casualties

 

 

  How did you face off those guards and the black birds? I asked.

  Melibar ignored that question.

  I can take you only half way to the garden of spring.

  Why? I asked

  The garden’s caretaker finds me a little a destructive. Melibar explained.

  KAHH! I heard a screech and I turned around.

  “The black birds ’’ I said fearfully.

  KAHH!

  Melibar dived down suddenly. One of the black birds’ screeched black fire ignited on the tip of Melibar’s left wing. A multitude of voices screeched inside my mind all at once.

  We are the Oinhenxa. Servants to Atropos Queen of Night, fashioned from her core. We stand strong, our life ends when she falls so we reign forever!

  I screamed as the fire spread half way up the wing.

  You’ll have to jump Maywen it’s the only way Melibar thought.

  No it can’t be. I can put out the fire, I pleaded.

  Maywen, it’s a magical fire, dark magic to be exact, it’s too strong. It feeds on despair, sorrow, and death.

  Melibar winced I could see and feel her pain: she was dying.

  “Alright guys we have to jump ’’ I turned around and said to my friends.

  “What are you insane? ’’ Darasin yelled.

  I pointed to the black fire.

  “Right, jumping off dragon sane’’ he said weakly.

  I jumped off Melibar. My friends jumped off next and we fell crashing down on an open field filled with wildflowers. Then Melibar crashed down and it became a field of flaming wildflowers.

  “Melibar ’’ I screamed. She was lying down on her side but her whole lower body was encased in black flames.

  Maywen I won’t make it so I need you to take this, my successor. Good bye Maywen. I’m glad I spent my last moments with you.

  She flinched, her body burst into golden flames until all that was left of her was gold ashes and an egg. It was so tiny it could fit in the palm of my hand. It looked like a pearl etched with gold swirls all around.

  ‘’ I guess we have to find our own way to the garden.’’ Amersa observed.

  Darasin glared at her. Darasin and I have known each other for so long he could tell I was upset and right now I felt really upset. Then suddenly a wind carried the ashes north and the ashes kept floating as if giving us a sign or …

  “Directions! Come on we have to follow it!’’ I yelled and started running carefully carrying the egg in my hand.

  As I ran, my friends followed. The golden ash stopped at a nearby inn, in a small town called Sprig. It was flourishing with flowers and growth as if it was always springtime. There was a wooden sign hanging on a pole by the inn that read Spriggleing’s Inn. At the bottom a flower was carved into the wood. We saw a piece of paper nailed on to the door that read:

  Wanted

  Two witches and one youth reported to have dark hair, green eyes the other bright red hair and multi colored eyes, the youth has blonde hair and brown eyes. If seen report to one of the king’s troops immediately.

  At the bottom of the paper was King Dervindell’s signature and the emblem of the sun. I tore it up and ripped it to tiny pieces, opened the door and walked inside. The walls were covered with garlands made of intertwined flowers and vines. At the walkway was a desk with a quill pen, ink and paper. Behind the desk was a large woman with brown hair and green eyes with an oversized nose and green dress covered by an apron. In her hair was a fat red rose.

  “Good evening.’’ the woman greeted.

  “I am Springa Sprggleing the inn keeper. How can I help you? ’’

  I leaned on the desk and I stood on my heels so I looked taller.

  “We would like a place to stay for the night if there are any rooms left.’’

  “Yes I believe we have a room for your party.’’ the inn keeper said.

  “Your name, please? ’’ Springa asked warmly.

  I froze. I knew I shouldn’t say my real name.

  “Put it under Ingraine.’’ I said. She wrote it down on a piece of paper and grabbed a candle.

  Then she said “Alright, follow me to your room.’’

  We followed her up creaking stairs.